Understanding Migraine and Hearing Loss: Research and Expert Insights -

“There’s a recognized connection between migraine and hearing loss, though the relationship isn’t entirely understood,” says Michael Genovese, MD, a physician and the chief medical adviser at Ascendant New York.

Hearing loss isn’t a typical symptom of migraine, Dr. Genovese explains, but it can occur because of how a migraine attack can affect the function of the inner ear. When the inner ear is affected, sudden hearing loss can occur, a phenomenon called “sensorineureal hearing loss” in clinical terms.

Studies show that migraine, particularly migraine with aura and vestibular migraine, increase the risk of hearing loss. For instance, a landmark study of more than 10,000 people with migraine (and more than 40,000 people without) found that people with migraine were 1.8 times more likely to develop sudden hearing loss.

Newer research confirmed the findings: a much larger meta-analysis of existing studies examined about 280,000 people and found that participants with migraine were nearly 40 percent more likely to develop sudden hearing loss than people without migraine.

Another, smaller, study published in 2023 found that 92 percent of people living with vestibular migraine had some form of hearing impairment, and almost 70 percent had hearing loss.

It’s important to remember that losing your hearing as a result of migraine is still unlikely. Hearing loss with migraine remains a rare occurrence, as the overall (or absolute) risk of developing this condition remains fairly low, according to the studies.

Still, the researchers note that migraine patients with auditory symptoms should be screened for sudden hearing loss.

“Although not everyone with migraine will experience hearing-related symptoms, it’s a connection worth exploring, especially if hearing problems arise alongside frequent migraine episodes,” says Genovese.

How Might Migraine Cause Hearing Loss?

Although researchers know migraine raises the risk of hearing loss, the reasons why this happens remain less understood. A few studies have tried to elucidate the mystery, but the mechanisms remain unclear, and researchers couldn’t work out how one might cause the other.

Still, there are possible explanations. “Migraine may lead to hearing loss through two primary pathways: changes in blood flow and inflammation,” says Genovese. “During a migraine attack, blood vessels can constrict and then suddenly dilate, causing disruptions in blood circulation. This inconsistent blood flow can affect the inner ear, which relies on a steady supply of oxygen and nutrients to function correctly.

“When this supply is disrupted, it can damage the delicate structures involved in hearing,” he says.

Migraine attacks also trigger inflammation in the body, Genovese says, which can then interfere with nerve signaling in the auditory pathways. “These inflammatory changes may play a role in causing symptoms like tinnitus, ear fullness, or even sudden hearing loss. Vestibular migraine attacks, in particular, are more closely associated with hearing and balance symptoms.” Tinnitus is characterized by a ringing, buzzing, or humming sound in the ears.

Nina Riggins, MD, PhD, a neurologist in Palo Alto, California, and a UCNS certified headache specialist, agrees. “Hearing loss is not a migraine symptom, but it can potentially affect people living with migraine more than people who don’t have migraine,” she says. “There could be many reasons for this, including the fact that migraine is associated with tinnitus, which can affect hearing.”

“It’s also possible that in people who live with migraine, chronic pain leads to the phenomenon of brain sensitization,” Dr. Riggins explains, a process in which the brain becomes too sensitive to stimuli over time.

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